October 12, 2004

Calling for the university community to create its own "intentional future," SIUE Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift stated last week that SIUE is a premier metropolitan university, affirming that SIUE will continue toward goals of attaining "excellence to the fullest" and becoming a nationally known university.

He presented his "First Impressions" speech before some 500 SIUE faculty, staff, retirees, and students, all gathered in Meridian Ballroom last Thursday.

Vandegrift set 2010 as the goal for SIUE to "make material progress" toward his goals, and also set 2015 as the ultimate year to successfully complete the challenge.

He also named three major themes for continued improvement and achieving national recognition: 1) to further attract and retain increasingly better students; 2) strive to position SIUE as a premier metropolitan university "in the marketplace of ideas"; and 3) further develop the university's resource base.

Vandegrift said he was giving what he called his "First Impressions" speech rather than a state of the university address because he has been chancellor only since July 1. Vandegrift, who was provost of Georgia Southern University, took the SIUE post when Emeritus Chancellor David Werner retired.

Vandegrift acknowledged Werner's efforts and thanked the former chancellor for his leadership in striving to make SIUE a premier metropolitan university, calling for the university community to "boldly embrace the future we have articulated in our Vision Statement." The university's vision states: "Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, as a premier Metropolitan University, will be recognized nationally for the excellence of its programs and development of professional and community leaders."

In support of his announcement that the university has achieved status as a premier metropolitan university, Vandegrift cited schools, academic departments, and university initiatives as proof. He also praised the faculty for scholarly efforts nationally and internationally, and staff for efficiently managing university systems and "maintaining a beautiful campus."

He also noted several students who have excelled in their studies and activities.

"I mention these programs and people because I believe that now is the time to call attention to examples of excellence at SIUE," Vandegrift said. "I mention these programs and people because now is the time to recognize ourselves for our excellence."

He also noted recent peer rankings in U.S. News and World Report that gave SIUE high marks as further proof of the university's excellence. "These peer reputation rankings suggest to me, and I want you to note with pride, that we are already recognized for having a top tier faculty," Vandegrift said.

"Indeed, I want you to know that I am fully convinced that we are a premier metropolitan university. And we should do what is necessary to gain national recognition for what we are."

The new chancellor said that he had visited nearly every campus building since arriving at SIUE and has been impressed by the "kindness, generosity, openness, and friendship" shown to him. "I have learned that SIUE has a well-formed sense of community, clearly articulated values, and a welcoming environment," Vandegrift said. "These qualities were not produced by chance, but through hard work and dedication of talented Edwardsville faculty, staff, and administrators.

"But, if we truly seek to be recognized nationally as being premier, we must believe in ourselves to achieve that recognition. The purposes of higher education lie in the fulfillment of human potential," he said. "We add value to people's lives. Since higher education is inherently a people business in the end, it is people who make the process successful.

"At SIUE we have wonderful people, clearly articulated values and goals, and a strong commitment to make our vision a reality. To achieve our shared vision we need only to believe in ourselves, to believe in our life's work, and to believe in the strength of our university community."

Click here for a complete text of the chancellor's speech.

PREVIEW 2004 Best Ever With 1,706 Guests

PREVIEW SIUE continues to grow each year, with yesterday's crowd at the Morris University Center the biggest its ever been, said Karen Bollinger, assistant director of Admissions and Academic Marketing Services and chair of the PREVIEW organizing committee.

In fact, PREVIEW's growth from 2002 to 2003 marked an increase of only 19 students, but from 2003 to 2004 the increase was 69 students."This is our day for high school students and their families, as well as community college students, to see what we're about," Bollinger said. "They are in the midst of deciding an important step in the educational process and we do everything possible at PREVIEW SIUE to put our best foot forward."

Bollinger said university departments and units, including faculty and staff, were on hand to answer questions about academic programs and services available to students. "We welcomed 1,706 total guests, including 706 prospective high school and transfer students," Bollinger said. "In terms of student attendance, this was our best-attended open house since PREVIEW began in 1985.

"On behalf of the PREVIEW SIUE Committee, I thank the faculty, staff, and students who contributed their time and energy to this important event. Their contributions helped us roll out the red carpet to the next generation of SIUE students," she said.

Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift made opening remarks in Meridian Ballroom, before students and families toured the central campus, including the residence halls and Cougar Village.

Informational sessions were scheduled throughout the day, with topics including Countdown to SIUE; Financing Your Education at SIUE; and Emerging Careers, as well as academic sessions presented by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Business, Education, Engineering, Nursing, and Pharmacy.

"PREVIEW SIUE is an opportunity for prospective students and their families to get answers to all their questions in one visit to campus," Bollinger said. "Our program is one of the few campus-visit programs that includes participation from virtually all academic and student services units in one setting."

Early Childhood Center To Celebrate 35th Birthday

The pre-schoolers who toddled through the doors of the first childcare center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1969 were nurtured by a group of caring personnel and students who were dedicated to early childhood education.

Those children are now in their late '30s and are no doubt better for their experience as part of the SIUE Early Childhood Center (ECC). In fact, some of them probably brought their own children to the ECC during the next 35 years.

Well, the ECC would love to see them and/or their offspring at the 35th anniversary open house at the center, located just across from the SIUE Rec Plex on Northwest Road. "It's our own birthday party," said Rebecca Dabbs-Kayser, director of the center since 2000. The party takes place from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, and will include a birthday cake, craft activities for children, face painting, an art and photo exhibit, and popular local storyteller Marilyn Kinsella.

"It's going to be a great time in which our past "alums' and their parents can visit with old friends and maybe make a few new ones," Dabbs-Kayser said. "It's also a chance to learn about our scholarship program for SIUE student families."

As for the caring nurturing atmosphere that was at the center when it began, the tradition continues. "Our staff is a dedicated group of teachers who are committed to our children," Dabbs- Kayser said.

The center cares for about 50-60 children ranging in age from two to five-year-olds, offering activities that foster creativity and problem-solving. The ECC is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, and all ECC teachers have degrees in early childhood education and many are working on advanced degrees. SIUE student assistants also participate in the ECC curriculum with the children.

Throughout the year, the staff creates a portfolio for each child, recording accomplishments, activities, and special events, such as the Annual Vehicle Day, in which ECC children are able to explore various vehicles, from fire trucks to U.S. Army vehicles.

"Each day at the center is an adventure, from watering the garden to painting at the easel," Dabbs-Kayser said. "We offer our children the opportunity to make choices for themselves in a diverse, educationally sound environment."

The scholarship endowment was established by Dabbs-Kayser's predecessor at the center for 29 years-S. LaVernn Wilson, who believed that student families faced special challenges in pursuing and reaching their academic goals. "LaVernn knew, as we know, that many SIUE students with children have to juggle their studies and work a night job to make ends meet," Dabbs-Kayser said.

"So, when she retired, LaVernn established a scholarship endowment through the SIUE Foundation to help these students and their families." The scholarship assists student families with childcare costs at the ECC.

"This is a huge help to students with children on their way to graduation," Dabbs-Kayser said. "But we need more donations for the endowment to fund the scholarship.

"Our hope is that our alums will want to give back to the ECC, and we'll provide a way for them to do that."

For more information, call the Early Childhood Center, (618) 650-2556, or, from St. Louis toll-free, (888) 328-5168, Ext. 2556.

Click here for a historic timeline of the SIUE Early Childhood Center.

Annual Security Report Is Available On-Line

The Fall 2004 issue of the SIUE Annual Security Report is available on-line: admin.siue.edu/studentrightto

The report contains campus safety and security information and crime statistics for calendar years 2001, 2002, 2003, and is published in compliance with the the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, formerly known as the Federal Student Right To Know and Campus Security Act of 1990.

The report also may be accessed through the SIUE Home Page: www.siue.edu under Resources for Current Students/Campus Safety/Campus Security Policies and Crime Statistics. The report is also available at the Lovejoy Library Circulation Desk, or from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration, Rendleman Hall, Room 2228, Campus Box 1158.

'Sculpture' Provides Teaching Tool For Engineering Faculty

Is it art or is it a teaching tool? In the case of the new 3,000-pound steel "sculpture" dedicated last week in the courtyard of the Engineering Building, it is most definitely a teaching tool … and, at least an interesting conversation piece.

The design for the structure was created in 1986 by Duane Ellifritt, now an emeritus civil engineering professor at the University of Florida, and an artist in his own right. Since then, the steel teaching tool has been replicated on many campuses throughout the country, where it has been used for the benefit of engineering students. The "sculpture" consists of steel beams and columns of varying sizes and lengths that present a collection of steel connections found in most buildings.

Although the structure can be found on more than 100 campuses across the country, including Washington University in St. Louis, it is usually tucked away in a corner for use by students and faculty only. "We decided to display it with an artistic treatment and make it part of our landscape at the Engineering Building," says SIUE Construction Emeritus Professor S. Narayan Bodapati, chair of the SIUE Department of Construction and project manager for installation of the Ellifritt.

"Our project also is different because we were able to place the structure, design the foundation, with brickwork and lighting, and landscape the site, all at no cost," Bodapati said. "And, this is because of the generosity of our many alumni who are employed by construction businesses throughout the region," Bodapati said.

Engineering Dean Paul Seaburg said that since the 1981 Hyatt Regency skywalk collapse in Kansas City, engineering schools have been placing more emphasis on teaching steel connections. Since then, the subject is given more emphasis in the classroom. "Students will benefit from Professor Ellifritt's sculpture, especially our structural engineering majors," Seaburg said.

"They can see first hand how steel connections can be made more rigid, especially tubular members which are hollow."

Ellifritt himself said that teaching the design of steel connection can be a challenging process in the classroom. "Connection design was thought to be a 'detail problem,' best left to fabricators," Ellifritt wrote. "In the summer of 1985, after seeing the inability of many students to visualize even simple connections, I began to search for a way to make connections more real to them," he said.

From that perceived need, Ellifritt designed his sculpture as "something that would be an attractive addition … on a campus, something that would symbolize engineering in general, and that could also function as a teaching aid." Ellifritt's own artwork can be viewed on-line at www.ellifritt.com/gallery.html.

Bodapati said it was very gratifying to find so many SIUE engineering alumni and local businesses that were willing to help with the project. "One of our current civil engineering students helped with the design of the foundation and our construction students helped with installation of the steel sculpture," Bodapati said.

"This project could have easily cost the school tens of thousands of dollars, but with everyone's help we were able to do it for free."

SIUE Men's Soccer Grabs GLVC's Top Seed

No. 5 ranked SIUE earned the right to play host to the 2004 Great Lakes Valley Conference Men's Soccer Tournament with a convincing 3-0 victory Saturday (10/23) over Bellarmine.

Mike Banner (Upper Marlboro, Md.) scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Cougars. His first goal came just 52 seconds into the game. It was all SIUE needed to wrap up its 21st consecutive regular season GLVC game without a loss.

Michael Burgund (Bethalto) made his senior day a special one with a goal at 12:32. Banner grabbed an assist on the goal. Victor Pacheco recorded an assist on both of the first two goals.

SIUE, 13-2-2 overall and 8-0-2 in the GLVC, also got a breakaway from Banner at 81:29. Banner split at least four defenders by himself at midfield and outplayed Bellarmine goalkeeper Brad Lipe for an wide open goal. Bellarmine is now 7-9-2 and 3-6-1 in the GLVC.

SIUE plays at regional rival Truman State on Thursday (10/28) in the regular season finale.

The Cougars next play in the semifinals of the GLVC TOurnament at Korte Stadium on Nov. 5. The six-team tournament begins Oct. 31 when the No. 4 seed plays the No. 5 seed and the No. 3 seed faces the No. 6 seed. Both of those quarterfinal games will be played at the higher seed.

Cougar Women's Soccer Outlasts Knights

Christina Stremlau and Lindsey Kampwerth each had second-half goals to lead SIUE past Bellarmine 2-0 in Great Lakes Valley Conference women's college soccer tonight.

Jessica Brown and Kim Roady combined for the shutout by making two saves in the game. The pair picked up their 11th shutout of the season to set an SIUE record.

Stremlau scored the game-winning goal for the second game in a row at the 49:40 mark, and Kampwerth netted her second goal of the year with 14:45 left to seal the victory. SIUE ends the GLVC regular season with a 9-1 record and a 13-4 mark overall.

Seniors Ann Crawford, Angela Light, and Christen Carducci all had assists on Senior Night for SIUE.

The Cougars out shot the Knights 20-6 in the contest as SIUE has won for the sixth straight time and the 12th time in their last 13 games. During those 13 games, the Cougars have out scored their opponents 30-4.

SIUE will battle Southeast Missouri State in a non-conference match for their last regular season home game of the year on Thursday (10/28) at 7 p.m.

SIUE Volleyball Powers Past Indianapolis

SIUE played its best offensive match at the Vadalabene Center this season with a three-game sweep over Indianapolis.

SIUE defeated the Greyhounds 30-19, 31-29, 30-19.

The Cougars improved to 20-6 overall and 11-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Indianapolis, which suffered its second straight conference defeat, fell to 19-10 and 10-3 in the GLVC.

It's now four consecutive 20-win seasons for the Cougars and Coach Todd Gober, SIUE's all-time leader in volleyball victories.

SIUE now turns to non-conference play when it entertains Washington University on Tuesday (1026). The first serve is at 7 p.m. at the Vadalabene Center.

Boyll Wins GLVC Men's Cross Country Title

Ryan Boyll became the first runner in SIUE history to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship on Saturday (10/23).

Boyll ran the 8,000-meter course in 25 minutes, 36.58 seconds, defeating his nearest competitor Jesse Davis of Southern Indiana by just less than 10 seconds. SIUE's Brian Taghon also earned All-GLVC honors for the second time with a seventh-place finish in 26:10.05.

The win was especially sweet for Boyll, who didn't crack the top 10 last season after placing 12th. Boyll's winning time was just the eighth fastest time of the season by a Cougar.

As a team, SIUE placed fourth our of eight teams with 98. Lewis won the meet in the closest team finish in GLVC history. Lewis scored 55 points just ahead of Southern Indiana's 57.

SIUE is now idle until Nov. 6 when it plays host to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional at its own cross country course. The NCAA regional will be a 10,000-meter event and features teams in the GLVC, a handful of independent schools and members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Flounders Named GLVC Freshman of the Year

Kelly Flounders (Homer Glen) placed ninth in her first Great Lakes Valley Conference Cross Country Championship and was named the league's Freshman of the Year on Saturday (10/23).

Flounders, who also was named All-GLVC for finishing among the top 10, ran the 6,000-meter course in 23 minutes, 21.01 seconds It was the third fastest time ever by an SIUE freshman and the 11th fastest time in school history.

As a team, SIUE placed sixth out of eight teams. Wisconsin-Parkside won the meet with 47 points followed by Southern Indiana with 60.

Mary Witte (Normal) was the next best finisher for the Cougars with a 20-th place finish in 24:02.01.

The winner of the race was Southern Indiana's Heather Cooksey, who won in convincing fashion in 21:32.90. She won the race by more than 50 seconds over Wisconsin-Parkside's Michelle Boldon.

SIUE's next competition includes all of the GLVC teams and the other members of the Great Lakes region. SIUE is the host institution for the 2004 NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 6 at the Cougar cross country course.

The University of Southern Indiana men are a clear choice to capture the 2004-05 Great Lakes Valley Conference basketball crown, while no less than four teams will battle for the women's title in a vote of league coaches.

The Panthers, however, are barred from postseason play by the GLVC and are not eligible for the GLVC and NCAA Tournament this season. While KWC's games will count in the regular season standings, that gives USI-ranked No. 5 in the pre-season Division II poll-a seemingly comfortable role as favorites in the poll.

While the men's race seems clear, the women's is a toss-up with four different teams registering first-place votes. Bellarmine, Indianapolis, Quincy, and Northern Kentucky are all viewed by some coaches good enough to capture the conference championship.

Bellarmine (21-9, 15-5) and Indianapolis (23-9, 14-6) tied for the favorite role with 86 points apiece, but the Knights tallied four first place votes to the Greyhounds' two. Quincy (29-5, 17-3) registered three first-place votes and is a point behind with 85 points, while Northern Kentucky (17-11, 12-8) captured two first-place votes and 77 points.

Cougars Still Looking For No. 1 Seed

When the SIUE Soccer Cougars takes on Bellarmine next Saturday (Oct. 23) the Cougars will need a win or a tie in their final Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season game to clinch the No. 1 seed and a first round bye in the GLVC tournament.

"They (Bellarmine) are fighting for the conference tournament," said SIUE soccer coach Ed Huneke. "We have to go out and take care of business."

The Cougars, ranked No. 5 nationally, will take their 12-1-2 overall record and 7-0-2 mark in the GLVC on the road this Wednesday (10/20) against Rockhurst in a non-conference match. The Hawks have a record of 6-4-2 on the year.

"They will have nothing to lose," said Huneke. "They will be playing for respect, and we better be ready."

SIUE outlasted Missouri-St. Louis 1-0 in double-overtime and tied Quincy 0-0 this past weekend. After defeating UMSL, the Cougars are 3-0-2 in overtime games. "Good teams find a way to make it happen, and Friday night (10/15) (against UMSL) was a classic example," Huneke said. "We found a way and, again, that is what top level teams do."

SIUE is unbeaten in its last 20 regular season GLVC games and have won nine of their last 11 games this year. The Cougars are 6-0-1 at Ralph Korte Stadium this season, outscoring their opponents 18-4 during those contests.

SIUE is leading the GLVC with 19.5 shots per game, while holding opponents to only 5.5 shots per game.

The Cougars have a wealth of scoring with four different players tied for the team lead in goals. Victor Pacheco (San Luis, Brazil), Pete Cacciatore (St. Louis), Tim Collico(St. Louis), and Adam Lanter (Edwardsville) have netted five tallies this season.

Overall, SIUE has seven different players with game-winning goals this season. John Matthews (Edwardsville) scored his second game-winning goal against Missouri-St. Louis on only his second goal of the season. "John is a great player, and he is one of the most respected players on the team," Huneke said. "He has the full package."

Greg Crook (Columbia) and Nicholas Frasca (St. Charles) each had shutouts over the weekend. The pair has combined for nine shutouts. The two hold a goals against average of 0.44 this season.

"They are really quality goalkeepers," Huneke said. "Even though they are not seeing a lot of shots, they have been ready. They haven't let us down."

The Cougars travel to Kansas City, Mo., to take on Rockhurst on Wednesday (10/20) night at 6 p.m. before traveling back home for their final GLVC regular season match of the season on Saturday (10/23) at 5 p.m.

Roady And Brown Tie Record

SIUE women's soccer goalkeepers Kim Roady (Granite City) and Jessica Brown (St. Louis) have combined for 10 shutouts on the season, tying a school record. The pair has sparked SIUE to 12-4 record overall and a mark of 8-1 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

"It is a blessing to have two quality goalkeepers on our team," said SIUE women's soccer coach Lynda Bowers. "They have both been tremendous all year." Roady has five of the shutouts with a GLVC-leading 0.12 goals against average. Brown has made 28 saves this year and has combined with Roady on four of the shuouts.

The Cougars have won 11 of their last 12 games after starting the year with a 1-3 record. They defeated Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy each 1-0 this last weekend. "It is quite a turnaround from last year," said Bowers. "The soccer gods are smiling on us."

Last year, the Cougars started the season 7-1 before losing six of her last nine for a 10-7 record. SIUE is currently a part of a three-way tie with Northern Kentucky and Wisconsin-Parkside for the No. 1 seed in the GLVC tournament.

The Cougars defeated the Norse, yet lost to the Rangers. They are looking to secure one of the top two spots and a first round bye in the six-team tournament.

The Cougars will take on Bellarmine in the final GLVC regular season home game this Saturday (10/23). "They (Bellarmine) are a good team that can beat you," said Bowers. "There is a lot of pressure on us and we can't stumble."

Christen Carducci (Powell, Ohio) scored her second goal in as many games in the win over UMSL. "She is emerging when she needs to," said Bowers. "She has really come up big for us."

Christina Stremlau (St. Louis) netted a goal with 13 seconds left to push SIUE past Quincy for her second game-winning goal of the year. "It is just one of those games where we were out-played and just kept working," said Bowers. "It's a tribute to the work ethic of this team and to her."

Back Kayla Fromme (New Berlin) has led a defense that has allowed four goals in its last 12 games. "She has really kept our backfield together," Bowers said. "As a group, they have been solid all year."

Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday (10/23) against Bellarmine.

Big Week Awaits Volleyball Cougars

Three teams share the lead in Great Lakes Valley Conference volleyball and will do battle in what should prove to be a hectic week for league play.

SIUE, 18-5 overall and 9-1 in GLVC play, faces Southern Indiana on the road on Wednesday (10/20), Saint Joseph's at home on Friday (10/22) and Indianapolis at home on Saturday (10/23). All three would be in the six-team GLVC Tournament if it started today.

That fact alone gives SIUE Coach Todd Gober pause for concern.

Southern Indiana and Indianapolis currently are tied with SIUE, with 9-1 records in league play. Saint Joseph's is in fifth with a 6-4 mark in conference play. "This week will definitely put someone in the driver's seat," Gober said. "I think you have to call Southern Indiana the favorite since they play us and Indianapolis at home."

Gober said Southern Indiana has two of the best middle hitters in the conference, while Indianapolis has two of the best outside hitters. "The winners of this week's games are going to be the ones who serve well and play defense the best because all of the teams hit the ball well," he said.

Kindra Westendorf (Effingham) has emerged has the team's top outside hitter with 278 kills and a .285 hitting percentage. On defense, SIUE boasts the GLVC leader in digs with Allison Buss (Towanda). Buss passed the career 1,000-dig mark and holds a 5.06 digs per game average this season. As the team's libero, Buss also leads the team in service aces with 47.

Cougars Head To GLVC Championships

The SIUE men's and women's cross country teams will face off in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships this weekend in Highland Heights, Ky.

The Cougars will look to senior Ryan Boyll (Normal) to lead the way. Boyll posted a season best time of 24 minutes and 55 seconds in 8,000 meters at the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational on Oct. 2.

Junior Brian Taghon (East Moline) also has had a solid year after a 25:01 mark at the same race. Freshman Erik Steffens (Moline) has had several strong performances, with times of 25:56.90 at the Bradley Invitational and 25:57.62 mark at the EIU Invitational.

For the women, senior Mary Witte (Norman) has had the two highest finishes this year. A 18:59.12 performance in the 5,000 meters at the EIU Invitational, and a 19:08 mark at Bradley Invitational has led the way.

Freshman Kelly Flounders' (Homer Glen) times have been impressive. She has three of the top five performances for the Cougars this season, including a time of 19:17.20 on Sept. 17 at the Eastern Illinois Invitational.

The GLVC Championships will be held this Saturday 10/23) beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the men's 8,000 meters. That will be followed at 11:30 a.m. with the women's 6,000 meters.

SIUE Women's Golf Ranked 17th Nationally

The fall women's golf season may be completed, but the statistics are just coming into focus. SIUE has been ranked tied for 17th in the country in the NCAA Division II coaches poll released by www.thegolfchannel.com.

SIUE Coach Larry Bennett sifted through the pages of statistics he received from Golfstat, the official statistics provider to the NCAA Championships. In terms of scoring average, SIUE is 13th in the nation among NCAA Division II schools and fifth in the East region as well as 177th among all schools in all divisions.

SIUE holds a scoring average of 83.41 and has a head-to-head record of 50-15 during its five fall season tournaments.

Sophomore sensation Kallie Harrison leads SIUE with a 77.4 scoring average in 10 rounds of play, placing her fifth in the East region and 11th nationally. She holds a 4-5-1 record against the top 20 NCAA Division II-rated players in the country.

Freshman Rachel Roberg is second on the team with an 83.0 scoring average. She is ranked 24th in the region and 82nd nationally. Roberg is followed on the Cougar roster by Brittany Hood (32nd in region), Jessie Tiffe (43rd in region) Natalie Connaway (48th in region), and Kelly Morris (72nd in region).

The Cougars completed the fall season with a third-place finish in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.

SIUE Men's Soccer Ranked No. 5

SIUE men's soccer is now ranked No. 5 in Division II. SIUE moved up one spot from No. 6 to No. 5 in the latest national rankings from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

SIUE coach Ed Huneke and his Cougars hold a 11-1-1 record overall and a Great Lakes Valley Conference-leading 7-0-1 mark in league play. SIUE's latest game was a 1-1 tie at then 12th-ranked Lewis on Sunday (10/10).

The Cougars will be at Ralph Korte Stadium this weekend for homecoming as they take on GLVC rivals Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy. SIUE battles the Rivermen on Friday at 5 p.m., and the Cougars will take on the Hawks on Sunday afternoon at 1.

Below is the national and Great Lakes region rankings as of Oct. 12.

Athletics Events To Play Big Part In Homecoming 2004

It's homecoming week at SIUE, and SIUE athletics event once again will play a big part in the week's festivities.

A pep rally and bonfire is tentatively scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday (10/14) near Woodland Hall. On Friday (10/15), SIUE soccer entertains Missouri-St. Louis at Korte Stadium with the men's match at 5 p.m. followed by the women's match at 7:30 p.m. The 2004 homecoming king and queen will be announced that evening.

Korte Stadium also will be the site of the Third Annual Chili Cook-Off sponsored by SIUE Club Sports. Anyone affiliated with SIUE may enter. For more information, contact the Office of Campus Recreation, (618) 650-3245. To taste the chili, the cost is $2 for SIUE students and children under the age of 10. All others pay $3.

SIUE also will play host to Missouri-St. Louis in volleyball on Friday. The first serve is at 7 p.m. at the Vadalabene Center. SIUE volleyball faces Quincy in a home contest at 1 p.m. Saturday (10/16).

SIUE soccer faces Quincy in a doubleheader with the men's match set to start at noon and the women's contest to follow at 2:30 p.m.

This year's Jack Blake Award winner, Cal Thomas, will receive his award during the halftime of the men's match.

The Jack Blake Award is given in honor of former Olympian and SIUE soccer standout Jack Blake. The established criteria for the honoree is outstanding soccer play, leadership, displays a positive spirit of university and community involvement, dedicated to high fitness and intensity and holds a grade point average of 2.5 or above.

For more information about SIUE Homecoming, go to the Campus Activities Board Web site: www.siue.edu/CAB/homecoming.html.

Cougars Stay On Top Of GLVC

SIUE remains on top of the Great Lakes Valley Conference after a 1-1 tie at Lewis. The No. 6 ranked Cougars now have a record of 11-1-1 overall, 7-0-1 in the GLVC.

After falling behind the 12th-ranked Flyers 1-0 in the first half, SIUE bounced back to tie the game at the 71:46 mark. The Cougars out shot Lewis 23-9 for the match. "We really took it to them in the second half and in overtime aswell, but they (Lewis) hung in there," said SIUE soccer coach Ed Huneke.

"We weren't happy with the tie, but we were happy with how we played. They are a good team, and it sets the stage for us to play them again down the line."

Brian Higgins (St. Louis) netted the game-tying goal for his fourth on the season. "He is quite effective at making good penetrative runs in crowds, and that is not easy to do," said Huneke. "He got through their last line of defense and capitalized on a small window of opportunity."

Junior Kevin Thibodeau (St. Charles) and Mike Banner (Upper Marlboro, Md.) collected assists on the Higgins goal. Freshman Ross Beveridge (Dunfermline, Scotland) recorded two shots in the game against Lewis. "He came off the bench and played really well," said Huneke. "I was really pleased with his ability to posses the ball."

SIUE leads the GLVC in goals (34) and shots per game (17.6). The Cougars also are second in the conference in goals against average (0.49) and goals allowed (6). The Cougars are 5-0 at Korte Stadium this year outscoring their opponents 17-3 and outshooting them an amazing 109-28.

SIUE will look to continue that streak as they face Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy this weekend. "They are rivals, and we have had a long standing tradition with both of those teams." said Huneke. "A lot of the players know each other. So, we have to realize they are really looking to get some respect in the local area with a big game."

The Cougars face UMSL at Ralph Korte Stadium on Friday (10/15) at 5 p.m., following that with a matchup with the Hawks on Sunday (10/17) at noon.

Women's Soccer Face UMSL, Quincy

SIUE women's soccer brings its solid play back to Korte Stadium for homecoming this weekend. SIUE is 10-4 overall and 6-1 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

The Cougars are fresh off of two wins last week. They defeated non-conference opponent McKendree 2-0 on Wednesday (10/6) and followed that with a 4-1 GLVC win at Lewis on Sunday (10/10).

Ann Crawford (St. Louis) netted two goals against the Flyers. "They were both solid shots and two really good goals," said SIUE women's soccer coach Lynda Bowers. Crawford leads the GLVC with nine goals and is tied for second in the conference with 20 points.

Kelly Dill (Florissant, Mo.) and Christen Carducci (Columbus, Ohio) also notched goals in the win over Lewis. "Christen has been coming off an ankle injury and she got a chance that game to really get back in rhythm," said Bowers. "She really needed that goal. It was nice to see."

In the win over McKendree, SIUE used a balanced attack, outshooting the Bearcats 19-7. "Even though they are a NAIA school, it is still a rivalry game for us," said Bowers. "I knew it would be a tough match. That was a really good game for us."

Kayla Fromme (New Berlin) and senior Jackie Thomann (St. Louis) each had their first goals of the season in the victory. "That goal really sparked the rest of her (Thomann's) game," said Bowers.

Sophomore Padra Bencini (Carbondale) has led the Cougars from her back position. "She has been extremely solid, and she really held ourdefense together," said Bowers.

SIUE has won nine of its last 10 games by outscoring its opponents 26-4 since Sept. 10. The Cougars do battle with Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy at Korte Stadium this weekend. "It is nice to play at home," said Bowers. "Both UMSL and Quincy will be hard-fought games, and they are two really important ones for us."

Game time for the match against the Riverwomen is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday (10/15). The game versus the Hawks starts on Sunday (10/17) afternoon at 2:30.

Volleyball Aims For Business As Usual

SIUE volleyball coach Todd Gober knows if his team can keep putting together wins the Cougars have a good chance at winning the Great Lakes Valley Conference. SIUE is currently 16-5 overall and 7-1 in GLVC action.

"Now we just have to take care of business and play hard," said Gober. "The top teams in our conference are very equal."

SIUE picked up two road wins over Lewis and Wisconsin-Parkside over the weekend. The Cougars came from behind to outlast the Flyers, including a 15-12 fifth game on Friday (10/8) night.

"It was a good weekend, and Lewis played great against us," said Gober. "I have to give tons of credit to them. We just pulled it out. It was guts and hard work on our part that helped us find a way to win."

Outside hitter Kindra Westendorf (Effingham) led the charge with 23 kills against Lewis and 12 kills against the Rangers. "Kindra had a great weekend," said Gober. "She is someone who the other team is keying on. She had two huge matches."

Junior Krystal Majernik (Normal) recorded 109 assists in the two contests. She is averaging 11.64 assists per game this season. "She is very, very good at distributing the ball," said Gober. "She is running our middles better, and she is finding that consistent tempo. She is holding the ball a little longer and that is freezing the other teams middle blockers."

One of the middle hitters finding success from Majernik is Heather Bonde (Millstadt). Bonde had 33 kills in the matches against Lewis and Wisconsin-Parkside. She ranks fourth in the GLVC in points per game (4.77) and leads SIUE in kills per game (3.97).

"Heather had a great week offensively," said Gober. "She was terminating, and she is starting to understand she has to focus on to keeping her game on track."

Allison Buss (Towanda) leads the conference in services aces per game (0.58) and is second in the GLVC with 4.95 digs per game as the Cougars' libero. Buss had 26 digs in the victory over Lewis.

"Allison had a few huge digs against Lewis that really stopped their momentum," said Gober.

Jamie Jones (Flanagan) came in off the bench for SIUE and made some huge contributions in both wins. "Jamie Jones came in an did a great job defensively and helped us win game four against Lewis," said Gober. "Then in game five she was a key factor with her serving three straight points for us."

The Cougars will be at home this weekend to face Missouri-St. Louis on Friday (10/15) at 7 p.m. SIUE takes on Quincy on Saturday (10/16) afternoon at 1.

Cougars Battle At Border Wars

The SIUE men's and women's cross country teams battled in the Missouri-Illinois Border Wars at SIUE's Cross Country Course. The 21st-ranked Cougars finished sixth out of 28 teams. The women's team finished 15th out of 28.

Senior Ryan Boyll (Normal) led the way on the men's side. Boyll finished fifth at the meet with a time of 25 minutes, 35.45 seconds. Junior Brian Taghon (East Moline) came in at 11th place with a time of 25:58.11. Freshman Erik Steffens (Moline) continued his string of strong performances, placing 39th out of 273 competitors with a time of 26:56.31.

On the women's side, senior Mary Witte (Norman) finished 55th a time of 19:49.94. Freshman Kelly Flounders (Homer Glen) came in at a 62nd place at 20:01.32 in the 5,000 meters. Senior Lee Ann Lomax (Georgetown) came in at 69th place just more than six seconds behind Flounders to finish at 20:07.89.

The Cougars will travel to Highland Hts., Ky., for the GLVC Championships on Oct. 23 beginning at 10 a.m. for the women and 11 a.m. for the men.

Yingst Earns GLVC All-Conference Selection

Senior Chrissy Yingst (Belleville) has been named a GLVC All-Conference selection. She had a record of 6-3 on the year at No. 1 singles.

SIUE's women's tennis team finished its season with a fifth-place finish in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. The Cougars ended their season with a 5-6 record.

The Cougars lost 5-0 to Southern Indiana in their opening round match of the six-team tournament. SIUE bounced back to defeat Bellarmine 5-3 in the fifth place match.